Snow took its usual toll in Salem on Thursday, Feb 23 – schools closed, cars in ditches, slow commutes and kids having a ball.
Sledding was evident at Bush’s Pasture Park, Candalaria Elementary School and Nelson Park.
The city avoided the historic snowfall that hit in Portland, standing motorists on freeways for hours.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a low of 20 in Salem tonight, which means those wet streets will turn into slick streets. The latest on city street conditions is available online around-the-clock on the city’s website.
“Exercise extreme caution while walking or driving on these streets until temperatures rise above freezing over the weekend,” the city of Salem said in a news release Thursday afternoon.
A warming shelter will be open Thursday night starting at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 770 Chemeketa St. N.E.
When night temperatures drop to 32 or below, homeless service provider The ARCHES Project will take people by van to an emergency shelter through March 31. The shuttle operates until 8 p.m., transporting people from the ARCHES Day Center at 615 Commercial Street N.E. to the two shelters that are part of the program. The organization also offers a ride back to the day center in the morning.
The Salem Area Mass Transit District, also known as Cherriots, provides free transportation to and from emergency shelters on nights where temperatures are at or below 32 degrees. Outreach workers on such nights also drive around and look for people who may need a ride to an emergency shelter until 7:30 p.m.
Check for current information about road conditions through the city’s website, National Weather Service forecasts, city traffic cameras, and city snow route information and TripCheck for statewide conditions.
On Friday, the sun will be out but so will the winds, which make the expected high of 36 seem much colder. The weather service is forecasting winds of 11 to 15 mph with gusts to 23.
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